Women Business Owners
The SBDCs provide services to help women business owners succeed.
Women-owned businesses are increasing in number, range, diversity and earning power. A new report estimates that eight million businesses (28% of all businesses) were owned by women. These businesses created or maintained 16% of all jobs in a range of industries.
As women business owners expand their
companies, they become increasingly important to the local, regional and national economies.
Targeted Services for Women
The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers provide services to all small business populations and make special
efforts to reach members of socially and economically disadvantaged groups, including women. In fact, women-and
jointly-owned businesses consistently represent over half of our client base.
Understanding the unique challenges women face, the SBDCs provide services tailored to their specific needs.
- Experienced, professional staff help women uncover resources and loan programs available to help them start and grow
successful businesses. For instance, consultants may recommend opportunities such as SBA's
pre-qualification program, designed especially for those historically underrepresented in the business community.
- SBDC consultants help small business owners take advantage of opportunities that level the playing field within the private
and public sector. With 8(a) or Minority/Women Business certification, for instance,
women-owned firms capable of producing quality products and services at competitive prices have a more competitive position in
procuring contracts.
- The SBDCs serve women entrepreneurs by providing targeted training and technical assistance to help them compete. Regionally, the SBDC offices coordinate roundtables, networking groups, forums to enable women to
know the range of programs and publications available to them throughout their business ownership.
Successes
Women representing some of the thousands helped by the SBDCs in a single year span a range of industries as well as services
utilized.
Impact
According to independent research*, women-owned firms receiving SBDC assistance:
- Created 2,052 jobs and saved an additional 1,359 positions
- Generated $135 million in new sales
- Returned more than $14 million in new tax revenues
*All impact data and figures are from independent analysis of the SBDC program in Pennsylvania in 2005
by Dr. James Chrisman of Mississippi State University.
Resources
Business.gov
Business.gov, an official site of the U.S. Small Business Administration, helps small businesses understand their legal requirements and locate government services from federal, state and local agencies. While federal and state government agencies do not provide grants to women to help them start a business, a few rare program focus on helping minority women and women in economically disadvantaged communities, listed on this site.
Center for Women’s Business Research
The Center for Women’s Business Research provides data-driven knowledge that advances the economic, social and political impact of women business owners and their enterprises. This data driven knowledge provides the business imperative for embracing women business owners as customers, suppliers, community leaders, public policy influencers and role models for business leadership.
NAFE
The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) was has a rich history of providing education, networking and public advocacy to empower its members to achieve career success and financial security. Members are women executives, business owners, entrepreneurs and others who are committed to NAFE’s mission: the advancement of women in the workplace.
National Women’s Business Council
The National Women’s Business Council is a bipartisan federal advisory council created to serve as an independent source of advice and policy recommendations to the President, Congress and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women business owners. The Council’s mission is to promote bold initiatives, policies and programs designed to support women’s business enterprises at all stages of development in the public and private sector marketplaces—from start-up to success to significance.
NAWBO
The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide. NAWBO values and seeks a diverse and inclusive membership.
OWBO
The SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO) oversees a network of Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) throughout the United States and its territories. Through the management and technical assistance provided by the WBCs, entrepreneurs, especially women who are economically or socially disadvantaged, are offered comprehensive training and counseling on a vast array of topics in many languages to help them start and grow their own businesses.
SBA
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small-business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise, and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam.
SCORE
SCORE, “Counselors to America’s Small Business,” is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start, grow and succeed nationwide. SCORE Women’s Success Blog covers insights and advice on small-business topics, including marketing, management, Web and leadership issues.
Small Biz Nation
Part of the LinkedIn community, this new group is a valuable resource for small businesses looking to maximize their success. Here, the vast and growing LinkedIn community of small-business leaders can collaborate and share ideas, while gaining valuable insight from a variety of industry experts, as well as technology leaders HP and Intel. With special emphasis on mission-critical issues, this unique forum provides an excellent opportunity to learn helpful tips, tricks and best practices—all to keep your small business moving forward.
WBENC
The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), founded in 1997, is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned controlled, and operated by women in the United States. WBENC, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit, partners with 14 Regional Partner Organizations to provide its national standard of certification to women-owned businesses throughout the country. WBENC is also the nation’s leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America’s corporations.
Advocacy
The US House of Representatives Small Business Committee convened at Bryn
Mawr College to discuss the specific issues and challenges women business owners face. Donetta D'Innocenzo, co-chair of the
Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers' Advocacy and Resource Development Board, provided testimony before Congresswoman
and Committee Chair Nydia Velasquez (NY-12) and Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07), Committee Vice Chair.
Download D'Innocenzo's entire testimony for
more information.
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